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The Japanese Greatsword: The Ōdachi

The General’s Sword

Yamoto rode onto the field surrounded by his comrades in arms. His tactical ability was near-legendary, and his soldiers looked on with admiration as he surveyed the battlefield. Seeing the tattered ranks of the rebels arrayed before him, he knew the coming skirmish would be no challenge. Raising his Tachi high as a signal to the army around him, he gave the order to advance.

The battle was fierce but swift. Laying about with his Tachi, Yamoto killed many, but during his last bout with a foot soldier, his Tachi, weakened through years of harsh use, chipped and almost shattered. He managed to dodge the soldier’s counterattack and watched as the soldier was quickly finished off by one of his lieutenants. Examining his Tachi, he knew this was its last battle; he would need another.

A few weeks later, he made it back to the capital. The shogun announced a feast in his honor for all the successful victories he had accomplished during the past year. There was much drinking and laughing, and halfway through, the king announced that he had a new gift for the venerated general. The king summoned the royal swordsmith who came quickly with two men carrying a long parcel.

Raising his voice so everyone could hear, the king addressed the general. “My messengers kept me informed of your progress. After hearing of the loss of your Tachi, I commissioned a new sword made as a replacement.” The retainers held still as the swordsmith unwrapped the parcel, revealing an unusually long sword. “This an Ōdachi. They are incredibly difficult to make but are unmistakable. I figured it a fitting weapon for such a revered general as you.”

Featured Sword: Ōdachi

The larger version of the Tachi, the Katana’s predecessor, was the Ōdachi. Meaning “Long Sword”, it commonly reached lengths of 90-100cm or more. There were two main uses of the Ōdachi - war and showmanship. As less is known about the Ōdachi compared to the Tachi, we have to make some educated speculation on how it was likely used.

While a Katana or Wakizashi can be drawn in one smooth stroke that can also be used as an attack, the Ōdachi’s size would have necessitated it being worn on the back, preventing this. It would also limit the Ōdachi’s self-defense proclivity, instead making it more useful as a primary weapon on the battlefield. Some soldiers may have even been accompanied by a retainer whose job was to carry the blade and assist the Samurai in drawing it. One place it would have especially shined is as a horseback weapon - the longer reach offered by the blade would have given the horseman an advantage against foes on foot.

A few Ōdachi were made especially long - some over two metres, with the Norimitsu Ōdachi measuring over 3 and three-quarters metres!. These would have been too impractical for use on the battlefield, so they were more likely created as a showpiece by their forger. When a sword is forged, it is important that the entire blade be heated to the same temperature. While fairly easy today with modern technology, back then it was incredibly difficult, and this difficulty increased with the length. Thus only an expert swordsmith could make a high-quality Ōdachi.

A Symbol Raised High

2 months later, Yamamoto looked out on yet another battlefield. The respite in the capital came to an end all too soon, and it was not long before it was time to return to the countryside. This time, the battle would not be so easy. His scouts had alerted him to the position, composition, and size of the enemy forces a day earlier, and he had dispatched horseman during the night who had been traveling through the wee hours in order to reach a flanking position. They should be just out of sight, with a few men scouting ahead and waiting for his signal.

He motioned to his retainer, who unsheathed the Ōdachi and handed it to him. Examining the king’s gift, Yamoto lamented that his days as a fighter were over - the sword at over 3 shakas was too large for combat, but to use another sword would dishonor and offend the shogun. However, as his personal symbol, the sword would do even more damage due to the fear it would drive into his enemies and to the hope it would bestow into his own men. With all the men on both sides looking on, he raised it high for the first time. With a cheer, his men rushed forward.

Fun Fact

Because of their oddity, Ōdachi were used in ceremonies and as offerings to the gods.

Etymology

Ōdachi (おうだち/大太刀 in Japanese) is a synonym of the word Nodachi (のだち/野太刀). Ōdachi means “big Taichi”, and Taichi means “long sword”. So literally, Ōdachi means “big long sword”! Nodachi literally means “field Tachi”.

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from BladesPro UK - Blog https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/the-japanese-greatsword-the-odachi from BladesPro https://bladesproco.tumblr.com/post/184260081687

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The Swordmaking Legacy of Longquan: Shen Guanglong

A Town of Swordmsiths

In mainland China, in a beautiful mountainous region just north of the Tropic of Cancer, a small town is nestled with a long history - Longquan (pronounced LOW-ng-CHU-an). Legend has it that the first iron sword was forged there over 2500 years ago by the legendary smith Ou Yezi, who crafted 8 famous swords and gifted them to two Kings of the time. Since then, the sword-making tradition has been passed on in Longquan from father to son and is classified as an intangible cultural heritage of China.

One Family to Rule Them All

While the rest of the world was reeling from the breakout of World War I, the town of Longquan held a sword competition. All the best sword-makers in the town turned out, and the Shen family won the competition hands down. Their sword was not only able to cut through three copper coins (remember, swords are not made to cut metal), but also able to cut a competitor’s sword in twain. The next year they proved it was not a fluke by winning the Gold Award at another competition. After another five years, the Shen family won the National Art Contest for China, gaining the family national recognition.

The Shen family is not originally from Longquan, but Bihiu. The patriarch of the family moved to Longquan in 1896 to set up a weapons shop. It took almost 20 years of hard work before the first aforementioned competition victory. After their subsequent wins and resulting fame, 15 years later the second generation of the family was honored by being asked to make a sword for China’s president. This honor was repeated with later swords being given to Chairman Mao and US president Nixon, among many other foreign leaders. Their swords have since been used in several films and on television.

The Continuing Legacy

Today, Shen Guanglong (in Chinese names, the family name comes first) is the fourth generation of the Shen family and current representative of the Shen legacy. He started learning swordsmithing very early, consistently skipping school until his parents gave in and taught him the family craft. While he never finished primary school, even though he wishes he had, under his direction, the Shen swordmaking shop has expanded into a factory with hundreds of workers. The family business now makes a wide variety of swords, from traditional Chinese Jian to Japanese Katanas. Consistently winning awards since 1980, including one as the best sword forger in all of China, the shop has managed to maintain its works’ high quality through its businesses’ expansion. Crafted mainly for export, all crafted swords are held to exacting standards and are quite expensive, often running four to five digits in price.

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from BladesPro UK - Blog https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/longquan-legacy-shen-guang-long from BladesPro https://bladesproco.tumblr.com/post/183924065967

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Chinese Swords - The Jian

A Blade Fit for a King

Li Qiang worked tirelessly to craft the mold. He was an expert Bronze worker and no stranger to sword-making, but this sword was for the king. And not just any king, but King Ghoujin, he who had not only turned the country around through political reforms devised by his astute advisers, but he who had also suffered 3 years as a slave to King Fuchai of Wu and would soon be going back, as leader of the glorious Yue army, to have his revenge.

So Qiang worked for several days straight. He constantly created new molds - experimenting with different lengths and thicknesses, as well as where to put holes for outgassing so the rising bubbles from the hot copper wouldn’t harm the resulting blade. He tried different mixtures of copper and tin - while copper alone is flexible and soft, the addition of tin makes it harder but more prone to shattering. He even added a minute amount of sulfur, so when it came time to inscribe the blade, the inscriptions wouldn’t tarnish with time.

Finally, one day, he had it: a straight, double-sided blade. Coloured like gold, true and hard, a gift fit for a king. A true Jian. All it needed now was the inscription. Tomorrow, Qiang would take it to a colleague who would inscribe the words “King Ghoujin’s personal sword”.

Featured Sword: Jian

Chinese swords are divided into two types: the Jian and the Dao. They were both considered one of the Five Weapons - along with the spear, halberd, and staff.

Swords of the Jian type are double-edged and straight. Originally descended from daggers, they were the first type of sword in China. Because of the poor swordsmithing techniques available at the time, they were not considered very reliable as they tended to break easily - not desired behaviour in a weapon one’s life depends upon. They were also hard to use, requiring much training to become proficient. Thus, when the Dao came along, they were quickly supplanted. Needless to say, with modern swordsmithing, Jian swords are much more reliable, though they still require training to use effectively.

The Sword of Ghoujin

The bronze sword made by Li Qang is known as the famous “Sword Of Ghoujin”, one of the earliest examples of a bronze sword from ancient China. What makes the blade so wondrous is that, 2500 years after its inception, it is still in pristine condition with almost no tarnish. This is made even more incredible by the fact that it was found in a damp tomb. The only damage to the sword was caused after it was found and being displayed abroad, sadly, by a worker who managed to bang the blade against a hard surface while unsheathing it, which caused a small crack on the blade. In response to this, the Chinese government has banned it from leaving the country, and it can be seen only in the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.

Fun Facts

Jian swords often have tassels. While today they are mainly used decoratively or to change the balance of a sword, there is speculation that in the past they could have been used from such mundane uses as making it easier to hold onto the sword, to offensive uses including blinding or injuring opponents (using metal inserted into the tassel).

Etymology

Jian (traditional: 劍, simplified: 剑, 4th tone) is a Chinese word that originally described Jian-type swords, though in modern usage it has expanded to also mean “double-edged sword” or even swords in general.

Further Reading

If you liked this post and would like to learn about the Dao’s sister sword, please check out post Chinese Swords - The Jian.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of both sword types, as well as Chinese swordsmithing in general, please check out our post Chinese Swordsmithing - A Rediscovered Treasure.

See our Dao Swords

from BladesPro UK - Blog https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/chinese-swords-dao from BladesPro https://bladesproco.tumblr.com/post/183278381007

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petegriffinuk · 5 years

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Akaibara Odachi Samurai Sword...

Akaibara Odachi Samurai Sword https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/akaibara-odachi-samurai-sword

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Soshu Kitae Odachi Samurai Sword...

Soshu Kitae Odachi Samurai Sword https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/soshu-kitae-odachi-samurai-sword

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Sakurasou Odachi Samurai Sword...

Sakurasou Odachi Samurai Sword https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/sakurasou-odachi-sword

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The Witcher

The Witcher franchise follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a genetically-altered monster-hunter. Possessing greater strength, stamina, and speed than a normal human, he also has limited use of magic through the use of Witcher Signs - simple spells that require only a gesture and concentration to cast.

The Adventure Begins - Books

The world of the Witcher was first revealed by author Andrzej Sapkowski through a short story about Geralt written for a contest held by the Polish science fiction magazine Fantastyka. It was followed by three more short stories, one of which was a prequel that featured Geralt’s mother.

The book series focuses primarily on Geralt, his daughter Ciri, and his lover Yennefer. Geralt is also often accompanied by Dandelion, his best friend and a minstrel. The series features common fantasy races such as elves, dwarves, gnomes, and, of course, humans. Other common magical creatures make appearances including vampires, werewolves, halflings, and dryads.

The name of the series “Witcher”, was purportedly inspired by the male versions of the world “witch” in English and German. Thus, Sapkowski coined a new Polish word “wiedźmin” to be the male equivalent of the already-existing word wiedźma.

Expanding the Story - TableTop RolePlaying

Soon after the main series line was completed, the first tabletop roleplaying game was developed. Released in 2001, it was called called Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni (English: The Witcher: A Game of Imagination) and was based off the books A second game was released last year (2018), but this one was based off the by-then successful video game franchise.

Going National - TV and Movies

Following a similar release schedule to the roleplaying games, in 2001 the first Witcher movie was released, followed in 2002 by a TV series by the same name. Both were hated by the series author. Over a decade later, an American movie was planned for 2017, but has since morphed into a TV series that is still in development (as of early 2019).

International Success - Video Games

By far the most successful spin-off of the books, three successful video games have been developed that loosely following plot lines from the books. A notable feature of all three games has been their delayed consequences mechanic - decisions made early on in a game has profound impact later. This mechanic enhances replayability and prohibits save-and-reloading by players looking for the best short-term outcome. The series is also noted for its morally grey choices - where there is often neither a clear good nor bad option, but rather a mix of both.

The first Witcher video game was released on PC in 2007. It featured a unique combat system that made it markedly different from other roleplaying games. The licensing rights were acquired for a mere $9,500 paid up-front even though the author was offered royalties, a decision he would later come to regret.

The second Witcher game was planned to be the first but re-released on console with a new combat system in 2009, but this failed, so work was transferred to another game which eventually became The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, released in 2011 on both PC and console. It featured a more complex combat system, more complex ability upgrade system, and a new stealth system. This second game was noted for its varied storypaths, with the game developers stating there were “16 different states of the world” that could be explored. Selling over 1.5 million copies, the game was a greater success compared to the original.

The final video game installment that follows Geralt as the main protagonist was released in 2015 to rave reviews and vast commercial success. Selling over 10 million copies and earning profit of over $63.3 million dollars, the game has been considered one of the greatest video games of all time. It was noted for its large open world, memorable side quests, and multiple new systems that gave the game a more realistic feel.

The Swords of the Witcher

There are two main types of swords in the Witcher Series: steel and silver. Steel swords are used against most common foes, especially humans. Strong and sharp, they don’t don’t break easily and can do a surprising amount of damage. Silver swords, by contrast, are used only against magical foes. Silver is much softer than steel, so it wouldn’t last nearly as long against enemies that weren’t supernaturally vulnerable to it. Silver swords are not pure silver however, as they contain a steel core which gives the blade strength.

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from BladesPro UK - Blog https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/witcher-franchise from BladesPro https://bladesproco.tumblr.com/post/182948798172

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The Katana’s Predecessor: The Tachi

In the Calvary

Riding with his cavalry contingent, Reo was a bit nervous. While he had been training as a Samurai for years, he had only recently been allotted a horse. In the few months since then, he had been practicing as often as he could, but it was so different from fighting on foot. If there were actual combat, he wasn’t sure how well he would perform.

A few hours later, the sun was just starting down from its noonday crest. The hills, barren of shadows for the moment, would soon begin sporting new ones, perfect hiding places for an ambush. He heard some voices up ahead and saw three men running down a hill just ahead, their feet kicking up dirt into the dry air. They were scouts, and from their rush seemed to have some important news…

***

Once the scouts reached us, they told us the news. They had spotted some men up ahead, and, while they were few in number, it was possible they belonged to a larger force nearby. The scouts assured us that they had not been seen. My commander decided that the few of us on horse had the best chance of catching them, so he dispatched us with one of the scouts to the men’s location, to use the horse’s speed to close the gap once we were spotted.

10 minutes later, the scout motioned for quiet and we pulled our horses to a stop. He steadily climbed up the hill, and peeked over it, careful to keep his head down low. Coming back down, he informed us the men we were looking for were in the valley behind the hill. Our leader decided we would ride around the base of the hill and catch them on the other side, while our scout would again summit the hill to make sure no one got away. In anticipation of the coming order to attack, Reo quietly drew his Tachi…

Featured Sword: Tachi

Tachi swords were originally developed around 900 AD and commonly made until about 1600. Typically 2-3 Shaku in length, they are slightly longer than a Katana, the sword to which they are most often compared. However, there are other differences between the two. Both the Katana and Tachi are curved, but the curvature of the Tachi is greater. Additionally, Tachi are worn with the cutting edge down, while Katana are worn with the cutting edge up. Because a swordsmith’s signature would be put on the side of the tang facing outward when worn on the wielder’s left side, this difference in wearing style meant that the swordsmith’s signature on a Tachi and Katana are on opposite sides of the tang.

Because of its greater length than the Katana, the Tachi has been suggested to have been used as more of an open-field weapon. In combat, the person whose weapon has the greater reach almost always has the advantage, so the Tachi with its longer length would have been preferred However, it would be less effective in more closed-in spaces. A further suggested use of the Tachi would have been its use on horseback, as longer reach is even more important for calvary, and the cutting edge worn down would seem to fit the needs of a horseman more. However, we lack early contemporary references to horseback combat, so we don’t know for sure.

A Careful Ambush

My troop carefully trotted around the base of the hill, guiding our horses and keeping them on the firmer, greener grass where the water flowed through between the hills in order to muffle the sound of the horses’ hooves. Three-quarters of the way around the base of the hill, we heard a shout. We had been spotted! Quickly heeling our horses forward, we pushed our horses to a gallop, quickly spotting the men and adjusting our path to intersect.

50 meters, 40, 30, 20, 10…and we were on them. Carefully raising my Tachi as I had trained, I aimed at the men, making careful and deliberate swings while I rode past. I had to be very careful not to hit the horse while keeping my balance - a very difficult feat on a moving horse while swinging at a moving target. One of my swings connected, and one man went down. I heard a horse bellow behind me. Looking back, I saw one of my comrades’ horses had a large gash accross its flank. The man who had made it was quickly cut down by another one of our number, but the horse did not look good. Wheeling back, I saw all our targets were down. Now we had to decide what to do with the horse…

Fun Fact

Originally worn with a Tanto as the larger weapon in a Daishō (大小, big-little pair), they were eventually replaced several centuries after with the Katana and Wakizashi pair.

Etymology

From the Old Japanese word “Tati” meaning “sever”, the pronunciation changed to “Tatsi”, then eventually to the modern “Tatchi”. In Kanji, it is written as 大刀, meaning “great/big Katana”.

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from BladesPro UK - Blog https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/tachi from BladesPro https://bladesproco.tumblr.com/post/182619356302

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Ciri’s Sword - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt...

Ciri’s Sword - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/ciris-sword-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt

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Rivia’s Blade - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt...

Rivia’s Blade - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/rivias-blade-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt

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Cirilla’s Sword - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt...

Cirilla’s Sword - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/cirillas-sword-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt

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Ciri’s Sword The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt...

Ciri’s Sword The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/ciris-sword-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-1

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Kill Bill “The Bride” Katana Samurai Sword...

Kill Bill “The Bride” Katana Samurai Sword https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/kill-bill-the-brides-katana-samurai-sword

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Kill Bill O-Ren Ishii Katana Samurai Sword...

Kill Bill O-Ren Ishii Katana Samurai Sword https://www.bladespro.co.uk/products/kill-bill-o-ren-ishii-katana-samurai-sword

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Chinese Swordsmithing - A Rediscovered Treasure

Japanese swordsmithing is renowned worldwide, and for good reason: the blade quality is superb, and the fittings are works of art in their own right. Using traditional methods, a sword made by a mastersmith can take months to prepare and can run in the thousands to millions of dollars to purchase - when one can be acquired at all. In contrast, Chinese swordsmithing is still relatively unknown, perhaps because it was used more for arming infantryman rather than serving as a status symbol for noble Samurai. However, if we look back at the history of Chinese sword production, we uncover a few surprises.

Ancient Chinese Swordsmithing

Chinese swordsmithing began development early, with knives found dating as far back as 1200 BC. As time progressed, those knives lengthened until they could be considered short swords, and they eventually began to replace daggers and axes in the 7th century BC. Up until this point they were made of Bronze, but, around the 6th century BC, steel processes were imported from India, and China began steel production. While poor at first, the quality of steel blades quickly improved, and with the discovery of quench-hardening in the 3rd century, bronze weapons went obsolete.

Chinese swords are divided into two types: the Jian and Dao. The earliest swords were Jian, double-sided weapons, as they descended from daggers. Dao swords were created later, as it was discovered that dulling one of the sides and thickening it could strengthen the blade, making it more reliable and less prone to breaking. In addition, Jian blades are straight, while Dao blades, especially later ones, tend to be curved. Some people believe that the curved Dao influenced the Japanese toward making their own curved blades such as the later renowned Katana and Wakizashi.

By the 2nd century BC, the Jian and the Dow were each considered one of the Five Weapons - along with the spear, halberd, and staff. As swords became useful when paired with shields or used for cavalry, the Dao became the weapon of choice for battle. Jian weapons were still used, but, because of their lower durability, were wielded only by experts or officials. Around this time, it is possible that Chinese swordsmiths discovered that coating swords with chromium oxide would protect them from rusting, a technique soon lost that wasn’t re-discovered until the 1930s and 40s by the Germans and Americans.

Time continued until the 6th century AD, when co-fusion steelmaking was developed (combining different iron ores with varying carbon content). This greatly enhanced swords by giving them the best of both worlds - a hard but brittle edge with a soft but flexible spine. It also seems to have given them an advantage against contemporary armor. Around this time, Chinese sword-making techniques were imported into Japan by immigrants from China, and the Japanese began their own sword traditions.

However, Chinese sword development did not stop as Japan’s began, but they both continued down separate paths in parallel. For another 6 centuries in China, the Dao continued its dominance over the Jian, and was divided into 4 categories: Ceremonial, Cross, Defense, and Divided. Ceremonial Daos were ornate and decorated with precious metals. Cross Daos were worn by crossbowmen as a sidearm. Defensive Daos were used for, you guessed it, self-defense, and Divided Daos were longswords attached to meter-plus long handles - some of these weapons reaching up to 3 meters in total length! Around the 12th century AD, the Jian experienced a short period of revival, until again being overtaken by the Dao a century later.

After this period, less is known about Chinese swords as there is little written material to work with. A few reasons have been suggested for this. One such reason is that sword-making in China was so well-established and developed that there was little need to continue writing books on the subject, so instead attention was given to newer technologies. Another idea is that because of Confucian values urging against militaristic pursuits in favor of cultural ones, the sword was no longer a “worthwhile” subject to write on. Whatever the case, while there may not be a large written tradition from those times, swordmaking in China never truly stopped, and today there are swordsmiths in China whose swords’ values match and even outstrip their Japanese counterparts.

Modern Chinese Swordsmithing

Chinese swordsmiths gain experience through the time-honored tradition of apprenticeship, often starting in their teenage years and continuing for years before they can hope to obtain the rank of master. Of those who do eventually reach master-rank, China divides into 3 levels: city-level master, province-level master, and country-level master (also known as a national treasure smith). Levels 1 mastersmiths typically work for large factories or small smithies owned by others. Levels 2 and 3 mastersmiths usually work at their own forges, with a few owning their own factories. Level 1 mastersmiths can command prices of around $5-10K for a sword. Level 2 smiths can command prices from $10K and up, and swords made by Level 3 masters range from over $100K to over $1M. Some mastersmiths choose to specialise, creating only the blade, while others choose to generalise, creating the fittings as well. The work of Level 2 and 3 swordsmiths are considered meritorious enough that some of them have been chosen to gift swords on behalf of the Chinese nation to foreign heads of state.

Today, Chinese swordsmiths have learned how to make Japanese swords along with their own, using the traditions shared by both and a few imported techniques such as folding. (Folding was not developed in China because they had access to better iron ores than Japan, making folding unnecessary. Today it is used mainly for the aesthetic appeal of such folded swords.) Because of this, Japan and China are two of the few countries using traditional techniques passed down over more than a millennia to craft swords similar to those made by their ancestors. If you’d like to see representations of ancient Chinese swords, please see our Chinese Sword collection*.

See our Chinese Swords >

*Note, these swords are for ornamental or display use only.

from BladesPro UK - Blog https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/chinese-swordsmithing from BladesPro https://bladesproco.tumblr.com/post/182257116067

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The Best Of 2018: Blood Grooves, Female Samurai, Ninjas VS Samurai, Steel Types & More

We think the best customers are well-informed customers, so we do our best to find valuable information and present it in a way everyone can enjoy. As swords enthusiasts ourselves, we feel such information should be shared freely among all who share our passion.

Thus, in 2018, we worked hard to update old articles and create new ones chock full of information for old and new sword enthusiasts alike, while also making them fun and engaging to read. Now, at the beginning of 2019, we look back at the results of our undertaking and feature the articles we and you liked the most.

Staff Picks

We asked our team to choose the posts they liked the most, and give their reason why. Here are their top picks:

Female Samurai - The Onna Bugeisha - “My favourite post for 2018 was the one about the Onna Bugeisha. I am the only female in our team, and learning about Samurai and their history is a great passion of mine, so I was thrilled to learn about the role of women and the courage of some female samurai.

For over half a millennia, women stepped up to the plate to defend their homes and families as the men left for battles. Within their communities, these women became great examples of courage, leadership, and strength. This article shines a light on the less famous, yet equally fierce female samurai.” - Silvia.

The Magic of the “Blood Groove” - “I love how the blood groove (aka "Bo-Hi”) is woven into the story of Kana, showcasing its usefulness in lightening the blade while also making it a fun, engaging and personal read.“ - Tristan

The Ninja vs The Samurai - "I like how the story is engaging while trying to stay as historically accurate as possible, even while creating the unlikely engagement between a samurai and a Ninja. The information is interesting too.” - Ryan